Carved Decoration

Carved decoration involves incising designs into leather-hard clay before glazing, creating浮雕 (fudiao) or bas-relief effects. Using metal or bamboo tools, artisans remove background clay to make motifs stand out, with depth varying from subtle lines to dramatic undercutting.

Regional Variations
-耀州窑 (Yaozhou Kiln): Northern Song dynasty青瓷 (celadon) with “oblique knife” carving
-龙泉窑 (Longquan Kiln): Southern Song double-layer carving for jade-like translucency
-磁州窑 (Cizhou Kiln): White slip carving revealing dark body beneath

Historical Development
Excavations at Henan’s Dangyangyu Kiln reveal Northern Song innovations in “cut and scrape” techniques that created dynamic shadow effects. The method democratized ceramic art by allowing mass production of decorative wares for non-imperial markets.

Masterpiece Example
The Shanghai Museum’s Northern Song Yaozhou celadon peony bowl showcases the technique’s ability to create volume through line variation. Its 22-layer carved petals demonstrate how Song Dynasty artisans transformed utilitarian bowls into sculptural artworks.